In negligence, what are damages?

• A. The legal fees associated with a lawsuit.
• B. The actual harm or injury resulting from the breach.
• C. The hospital's reputation.
• D. The number of staff on shift.

Answer: (B)

Damages in negligence are the harm or injury suffered by the plaintiff as a result of the defendant’s breach of duty. They are the compensation awarded to make the injured person whole again, covering both economic losses (like medical bills and lost wages) and non-economic losses (such as pain and suffering or emotional distress). Think of damages as the concrete losses the plaintiff experienced because of the negligent act.

For example, if a nurse’s failure to monitor a patient leads to an injury, the damages would include the cost of medical treatment, any income lost while recovering, and compensation for pain and suffering.

The other options don’t fit because they describe costs or factors not directly tied to the injury itself. Legal fees are costs of pursuing the lawsuit, not the harm caused by the negligence. The hospital’s reputation is an organizational attribute, not the direct harm to the plaintiff. The number of staff on shift is an operational detail, not a harm suffered by the plaintiff.